Peanut Butter, Oat and Flax Energy Cereal

a few months ago it was brought to my attention how HORRIBLE boxed cereal is for our bodies! take a look:

"Boxed breakfast cereals are some of the most toxic, unhealthy foods you can possibly buy at the grocery store.   Believe it or not, organic brands are the absolute worst!

The reason is that the violent processing required to make boxed cereal (called extrusion) is so high in temperature and pressure that the proteins in the grains are completely denatured and rendered toxic from the ordeal.   Organic boxed cereal is the most toxic of all because it is whole grain and therefore higher in protein!

Toxic foods are frequently the most addictive (think MSG and aspartame/nutrasweet), so even though it is difficult, you simply must eliminate these foods from your pantry for good!"

~The Healthy Home Economist

so since reading this and doing some research myself, i've been on the lookout for homemade cereal that doesn't take a lot of time to make and actually tastes GOOD. in addition to yesterday's Slow Cooker Fruit and Nut Granola this is another recipe that i've actually been making about weekly for the past 2months. not that i'm addicted or anything... ha.

i originally found this recipe (from this blog) in the form of Energy Bites. i have found, though, that it lasts longer for me if i eat it like cereal and i actually like i better that way too. ever since i became pregnant i'm a much bigger fan of milk than i used to be- and that's added protein anyways- so this is how i eat it. MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT. that's just how good it is! haha. below is my version of the recipe- i make about 50% more at a time- with my normal decreased amount of sugar and inclusion of additional grains... 

Ingredients:
1 1/4c oats

3/4c oat bran
2/3c coconut
1c ground flaxseed

3/4c peanut butter

1/2c chocolate chips

1/4c honey
1tsp vanilla

Directions:
Stir all ingredients together until thoroughly mixed and chill in the refrigerator. 

now how easy is THAT??!